The Discriminating Gamer: Alliance

About Alliance, from BoardGameGeek:

A game of diplomacy and warfare in the Napoleonic Era with a Columbia Block System twist. Play as Austria, Britain, France, Prussia, Russia, Spain, or the Ottomans. These major powers cannot survive alone, however. They require the assistance and support of neighboring countries, the Minor States. Even though Alliance is best with 3-7 players, the Minor States create added depth for the two-player game and innovative solo rules are included. Players start each turn by receiving 5 cards and discarding one. Afterwards, they take turns playing a card, moving and building units, and conducting combat operations if necessary. When leaders are played, a political phase occurs in which the major powers make diplomatic plays for the Minor States. Players can forge alliances lasting a year or more, with various conditions in effect: gold tributes, border disputes, non-aggression pacts, etc. By default, the winner is the player with the most Victory Points in cities by the game's end.